Premier Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the first Test against India. The two cricketing heavyweights will lock horns with each other in the four-Test series, which most likely will declare the finalists for the World Test Championship.
The first game between the nations will be played on February 9th in Nagpur followed by the second Test to be played on 17th February in Delhi. The third game between India and Australia is slated to take place on 1st March in Dharamshala whereas the last game will be played on 9th March in Ahmedabad.
Starc will miss the first game but is expected to be back for the second game. The left-arm pacer injured himself during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa and was ruled out of the third game. He detached the tendon from the bone of his left hand’s middle finger and after which a brace was placed on his finger.
Is Mitchell Starc the greatest World Cup bowler ever? Look at those numbers. pic.twitter.com/vXofuI16Qd
— Sean Wilson (@WilsonFC2012) January 7, 2023
Giving an update on his availability, Starc said that: “That’s probably likely (I will miss the first Test). We’ll see how we’re placed at the end of the month. Hopefully, I am there for the second Test if they want to play me. Maybe I can make some footmarks for Gazza (Lyon) or something. We’ll see how the finger is.”
Cameron Green also likely to miss the first Test against India
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green suffered an injury in the Boxing Day Test against Australia when a nasty bouncer from Anrich Nortje hit him on the finger. However, he showed great courage and batted with that injured finger for 177 balls and took his team to a comfortable position.
Green after his innings went for scans, which revealed that the all-rounder had a minor fracture. He was deemed unfit to play the upcoming third Test against South Africa in Sydney. It is also likely that he will miss the first game against India. Or even if he will play, he’s unlikely to bowl.
